Ready For Anything

Last week, my amazing brother sent me a surprise package in the mail. Look what it had in it:

While he realized that I probably didn't need explanation as to why knitting supplies should be in a an Emergency Survival Kit, he was kind enough to illuminate it for anyone who might be confused about the subject at all.

On a related note, I was re-watching Season 1 of  Pushing Daisies this past weekend with my mother (who was visiting for a few days), and Emerson Cod, the knitting detective, did actually save all the main characters' lives in the second episode by pulling his retractable knitting needles from his inside pocket (which he always kept with him in case he got the urge to cast on) while his hands were bound, splitting open the plastic body bag he was trapped in, unzipping Chuck's and Ned's bags, thereby allowing Ned to drive the DandyLion SX away from the homicidal maniac who was about to use them as crash test dummies.

Also, last week I was reminded that the Little Red Hen saved herself and her four lazy chicks from the Big Bad Fox because she had her workbag with her--while the fox took a nap, she cut open the bag they were trapped in, they escaped, filled it with rocks, then she stitched it up and they made a hasty exit. Granted, this was a sewing workbag, but I have scissors and a needle and yarn in my knitting bag--I think I could have reprised her role well enough in the same situation.

See? You never know when knitting could save your life.

Old Song, New Post

So, I meant to blog this a year ago, when I recorded it. I forgot. And I may have pulled my usual stunt of being overly-critical of my own voice. Oh, well. I wrote the song to be an encouragement. Be encouraged, my friends.

Are you ready for your leap of faith?

 

He Is Holding You

Words and Music by Talena Winters

Copyright 2009.

Every life has moments such as these
When you're hanging from the trapeze
The known a thin bar beneath your knees
But He is holding you

You don't see the net that's down below
You're just terrified of letting go
Take your leap of faith and you'll know
That He is holding you

Your ship may be safe in harbour
But that's not what ships are for
So let it go, let it go

Now you're flying high through the air
New horizons opening everywhere
You're no longer afraid to dare
'Cause he is holding you.

He is holding you
He is holding you
He is holding you
He is holding you.

Cold Snap

This day has not quite gone as I had planned.

First, there was the fact that our internet was out from the storm last night. Being as Mondays are traditionally a rather busy day for me, business-wise, I just kept hoping it would come back, so I wouldn't have to hijack someone's internet signal in town just to do my work. I tried to phone the internet company, but (not surprisingly) their phone kept ringing busy.

That wasn't so bad, actually, once I got the perspective gained by our power going out around 10 a.m. at outdoor temperatures of merely -30C. Fortunately, the sun was streaming in the windows, so I decided to wait before I allowed panic to set in--although I did get a little nervous when Jason called to tell me that the power was also out in town, and all the way up to Manning (about 100 km north of here)! Fortunately, it did come on within about an hour and a half, so there was not too much cause for alarm.

Cold snaps always present challenges that are not normally present. That's when you discover the problems that you didn't realize were imminent in the vehicle maintenance, among other things. For instance, we discovered last week that when the temperatures plunge below -20C, our doorknob freezes once the sun has warmed it ever-so-slightly in the afternoon and then goes behind the trees. (Last winter, our actual door froze shut due to frost built up through the afternoon on our poorly-sealing door. Jason and our friend Brian spent an afternoon fixing that this fall, so now the door isn't frozen--I just can't turn the door handle knob. Last year, I guess there was enough ventilation around the door that the knob didn't feel the need to freeze! Ha!) That means that we were unable to go to Swim Club on Friday, because I couldn't get the door open. Also, today. Apparently, I need to start opening the door every ten minutes starting from three o'clock in the afternoon. That oughta be good for the utility bills.

Also thanks to the extreme cold, and innocent little-boy-carelessness, we have one little kitten in the house today with frostbite on three paws--two are pretty bad, and I'm wondering what's going to end up happening with them. Jabin spilled water on top of the cathouse, right next to the metal chop saw, while watering the kittens this morning. Also, he left the water bowl up there, so of course the kittens had to climb up to get their drink--the first to try it got wet paws, and stuck two of them rather badly to the saw, one more to a block of ice. It was about ten minutes before we found him and got him inside. He is all warmed up now, but those two paws are pretty swollen, purple, and useless. Here he is, warming up in the sun this morning. (This is the one Jude called "Harry".)

Pray for our kitty's paws if you think of it, okay?

Do you remember a few years ago, when I did insane things like staying up until 4 a.m. finishing costumes to give my kids a great birthday party?

Those days are over, baby. Partly due to lack of room, partly due to lack of time, I have become the Queen of the Last-Minute, Low-Budget birthday party. Two weeks ago, we had Jude's friends over for a no-gifts-please playday. Thankfully, due to our mild fall, they were able to play outside for most of the day. (That was BEFORE the cold snap!) Then, this past Saturday, we had a small party at the pool to celebrate this guy turning 5. (The photo was taken on Saturday, November 13--when it was 9 above, as compared to the 30 below a week later. Gotta love Alberta.)

We are definitely past the baby-and-toddler stage now. It has it's advantages, but I don't think I am quite resigned to the fact, yet. Sigh.

All my boys are growing up.

P.S. Thank goodness that my internet came back, since I will NOT be going to town today! And, the extra time I have because I didn't go to town allowed me to upload photos and blog! Every cloud has some kind of silver lining, right?

Twisted Rope Hat--Knitting Pattern

This spring, my friend B. from Arkansas surprised me by sending up some organic, grass-fed chickens and soy-free eggs from her farm (delish!!!) and a skein of wool for me via my mother. The only thing she wanted back was the wool--reformed into a hat shape for her daughter H., who is almost three, but one that would be "boyish" enough for her infant son N. in two years.

So, here it is. I am quite pleased with how the design turned out, actually. Also, I started this in the van on our way home from Edmonton in September, and it was already dark--so I did the cable band in the dark by counting, with the occasional quick switch-on of the map light to check my numbers. Remarkably, I did not have to "un-knit" any of it! Yay!!

Unfortunately, I did not double-check the size before I began (as I did not have e-mail access in the van!), so I ended up making it too small and had to make another one in Toddler size. This pattern has been tested in the 3-6 month and Toddler size--the other two sizes I did by the numbers. Please let me know if there are any errors.

The hat is constructed by first making a cabled band that is grafted together at the ends. Then stitches are picked up for the crown and ear flaps. Twisted yarn ties and topper are the perfect finishing touch!

Click on the pattern name to download a copy of the pattern in a PDF file. Please give credit to this blog and include the copyright and e-mail address for any re-use. Thanks.

Edit, June 17, 2012:
This is one of my first designs, which I have been giving away on my blog for nearly two years now. It has proven to be extremely popular, but every so often, I have noticed on Ravelry that people have had problems with it. This is the revised version I did after re-testing it. Please note the different (more accurate) yarn weight. There are also two styles of earflaps and two extra sizes available in the revised version. The back is slightly longer than the front to cover the neck. Thank you for choosing my design.


Twisted Rope Hat
By Talena Winters. ©2010. Revised ©2012.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Sizes: Fits 3-6 mo. (up to head circ.: 15 in./ 37.5cm) 6-12 mos. (16 in./ 40 cm) 12-24 mos. (17 in./ 42.5 cm), 2-4 yrs. (19 in./ 47.5 cm), Child/Ladies’ Small (21 in./ 52.5 cm), Ladies’ Large (23.5 in./ 59 cm)

Materials: 2 (2, 2, 2*, 3, 3) 76 oz/50g skeins heavy aran-weight wool (approx. 78 [89, 101, 128, 148, 180] yds/72 [82, 93, 118, 136, 166] m) set of five 4 mm. double-pointed needles (dpns), cable needle (cn), yarn needle, scrap of yarn tied in loop for marking

Gauge: 20 sts, 28 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette stitch. It is extremely important that you check your gauge with this pattern! Most of the problems I have seen people have with this pattern are because they knit much looser than I do, and didn’t check their gauge. You may need to go down a needle size or two.

*See Notes at end of pattern.

Method:

Cable Band:
Start using only two of the dpns as straight needles. Cast on 16 stitches. Use a soft cast-on, as you will be grafting it together with the other end.

*Row 1: K2, p3, k6, p3, k2, turn.
Row 2:P2, k3, p6, k3, p2, turn.
Repeat from * once more.

Row 5: K2, p3, slip 3 sts. to cn and hold in front, k3, k3 stitches from cn, p3, k2, turn.
Row 6: As for Row 2.

*Row 7: K2, p3, k6, p3, k2, turn.
Row 8 :P2, k3, p6, k3, p2, turn.
Repeat from * once more.

Repeat Rows one to ten 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) more times, so you have 10 (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) "twists" in your cable. Band should measure approximately 13.7 inches/34 cm (15 inches/38 cm, 16.4 inches/41 cm, 17.75 inches/44.5 cm, 19.1 inches/48 cm, 20.5 inches/51 cm) from start. Use Kitchener Stitch to graft ends together--make sure to alter the stitch for all the changes in knit and purl as you graft! Weave in ends.

Crown:
Pick up 64 (72, 80, 88, 96, 104) stitches along one edge of band and distribute between 4 dpns. (I found that I had to pick up approx. 7 stitches for every 10 rows [one cable repeat] of hatband, give or take a few.) Place yarn marker at beginning of round. Knit in the round until crown measures approximately 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) inches/8.8 (10, 11.2, 12.5, 13.7, 15) cm from the bottom of cable band. (See Notes at end of pattern for finished crown height measurements in order to make alterations as necessary.) Don’t stretch the band while you measure, but do unfurl the bottom edge slightly to how it will lay once you pick up the bottom stitches.

Crown decreases:
Rnd 1: *K6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 11), k2tog* around.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K one less than previous decrease row, k2tog* around.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Repeat Rounds 3 & 4 until only 32 (32, 40, 48, 56, 64) sts remain.

Decrease 8 times every round until 8 stitches remain. Break yarn, leaving a 12" tail, and use a yarn needle to thread through remaining stitches and draw up tight. Weave in end well.

Ear/Cheek flaps:
Fold hat in half with back “seam” of hatband on one fold. With brim up as though to knit, count to the right of the opposite fold 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) sts (1/8 of hat circumference). This is where you will begin picking up stitches.

Pick up 64 (72, 80, 88, 96, 104) stitches around cable band and distribute evenly on 4 dpns—16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts each needle). Make sure that the back "seam" of hatband is in the centre of one of the needles.

Knit in the round for 4 rounds.

Cast off the first needle—16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts on needle opposite the "back". Knit back-and-forth rows in Stockinette Stich for 4 more rows, ending with a purl row. K 16 (18, 20 22, 24, 26), cast off the same, then knit the same. You should now have two needles holding stitches on opposite sides of the hat, with 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) sts on each of those needles.

Work with 2nd set of sts (leave 1st set on dpn for now).


Original Long version (solid brown hat pictured):
These flaps reach to the chin.

*Row 1: Sl 1 knit-wise, p across.
Row 2. Sl 1 knit-wise, k across.*
Work between *-*s 3 (2, 1, 0, 0, 0) more times.

*Row 9: Sl 1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 10: Sl 1, purl across.
Repeat from * until 8 (10, 10, 12, 12, 14) sts. remain. Bind off. Weave in end.

Revised Short Version (Beige and Brown hat pictured):
During revisions, I decided that not having the earflaps meet under the chin might be preferable to some. I leave the choice of which hat to make up to you.

Row 1: Purl across.
*Row 2: Sl 1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 3: Sl 1, purl across.
Repeat from * until 12 (14, 16, 18, 20) sts remain.

*Row 1a: Sl 1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2a: Sl 1, p2tog, p to last 3 sts, ssp, p1.
Repeat from * until 6 sts remain.

Last row: as for Row 1a, but bind off as you knit. Weave in end.

Join yarn at beginning of purl row on other ear flap. Complete as for first ear flap.

Ties and Tassels:
Tassel:
Cut 3 lengths of yarn approx. 8-10 inches long and use a yarn needle to thread across "button" on top of hat. Adjust so that there are two equal lengths. Twist each set of 3 to the right while twisting the two sets around each other to the left. Make an overhand knot about 1 inch from the end by wrapping the end around itself, inserting through from the hat-end and pulling tight.

Ties:
For ties, cut 3 lengths of yarn approx.16-20 inches long and use a yarn needle to anchor behind two stitches at bottom centre of hat flap. Use same procedure to twist and tie as for tassel. Repeat for other tie. Check that knots are the same distance from end on each.

Please e-mail errors in this pattern to talena@wintersdayin.ca.

Notes:
• For the 2-4 yr size, you may have to unravel your gauge swatch to make this hat. If you don’t want to do this, buy another ball.
• Approx. crown heights planned for (adjust to your recipient’s measurements): 3-6 mos: 5.5”/13.75 cm, 6-12 mos. 5.75”/14.5 cm, 12-24 mos: 6”/15 cm, 2-4 yrs: 7”/17.5 cm, Child/Ladies’ Small: 7.5”/19 cm, Ladies’ Large: 8.5”/21.25 cm.

Glossary:
sl: slip, move st from one needle to the other without working
ssk: slip two stitches as if to knit, insert left needle tip through both sts on right needle from right, k2tog.
ssp: slip two stitches as if to knit, insert left needle tip through both sts on right needle from left, p2tog.

Good Things Come In Sevens

I discovered something this past week.

Kittens are really really hard to photograph. They are worse than kids, because they are faster. And they don't know how to sit and pose for you! At least a kid, by the time they are mobile, has seen a camera enough times that they will occasionally humour you when you whip it out. Not so with three- and four-week-old kittens.

There are seven of the little furballs--five male, two female. Congrats to those of you who deciphered it correctly! The winner of the draw for the Amazon.com gift certificate is....

Jamie R!

Now for some pictures, so that you can enjoy all that kitty cuteness vicariously.

I have four kittens spoken for. That means THREE are still available to you, oh Cuddly Kitten-Lover! I have labelled the kittens in several pictures, so that those of you wanting one can let me know which ones to set aside for you. The names were made up for labelling only, and are NOT actual names of the kittens! You are welcome to name them whatever you wish!

"Shadow" and "Patches" are the two females. (Shadow is not in the first group shot.)

 These photos taken one week ago, at 4 weeks old. This was their first time in the house, so they weren't too adventurous.

"Fluffy" seems to be the feistiest little boy. Here he is, hissing at the nerve of me:


These photos taken today, at 5 weeks old. The kittens are definitely feeling more comfortable around us, and were starting to play while they were in the house today. Here is Shadow, checking out the situation from the safety of the box we transport them in:


Fluffy: Even fluffier than before!


Patches: "Are you finished, yet?! This is only fun for one of us, I'm sure!"

Also in the realm of "sevens", this is my 700th blog post. I'm not sure what kind of a landmark that is, but it just seems like such a nice celebratory number. So, Happy Something, Winters' Day In!